variants
or less commonly towny
plural townies
informal
: a native or resident of a town
especially
: a permanent inhabitant of a town as distinguished from a member of another group (such as the academic community)
Every Yooper I've ever met was an uncommonly unique character – a real salt-of-the-earth townie skilled at mechanics, deer hunting, and/or ice fishing. —
Kelly O
Kelly O … a question every intelligent and ambitious townie one day must confront: should I stay or leave? —Ben Yagoda
—often used before another noun Ben Yagoda This old school townie bar is located just off of Main Street on the outskirts of town … and it's the sort of place that I'd imagine has a regular clientele of locals who drop by on a daily basis for a shot and a beer. —Lori Fredrich
Lori Fredrich Examples of townie in a Sentence
fights between townies and college kids
the townies are dismayed that all the venerable manses around the village green are being bought as vacation homes by rich interlopers
Recent Examples on the Web
The firm stand against gentrification taken in its onscreen narrative, about middle-class townies crowding out longstanding local businesses, also felt indicative of Jenkins’ place in a film industry intent on adopting newer, slicker, more commercial methods.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 31 Aug. 2025
In 2016, Netflix released the four-episode revival Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life, which picks up years after the series finale and sees the return of all Stars Hollow's favorites, from the titular Gilmore girls to Stars Hollow's beloved townies and, yes, all three of Rory's boyfriends.
—Mekishana Pierre, EW.com, 25 Aug. 2025
That Canton murder was exposed by the feds after the locals brushed it off as a suicide to protect a fellow townie cop.
—Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 4 July 2025
The image Benchley leaves us with is one of the townie dying for the town, Quint vanishing into the sucking blue, his arms spread like Christ.
—Tyler Austin Harper, The Atlantic, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for townie
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Guy Lodge, Variety, 31 Aug. 2025
In 2016, Netflix released the four-episode revival Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life, which picks up years after the series finale and sees the return of all Stars Hollow's favorites, from the titular Gilmore girls to Stars Hollow's beloved townies and, yes, all three of Rory's boyfriends.
—Mekishana Pierre, EW.com, 25 Aug. 2025
That Canton murder was exposed by the feds after the locals brushed it off as a suicide to protect a fellow townie cop.
—Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 4 July 2025
The image Benchley leaves us with is one of the townie dying for the town, Quint vanishing into the sucking blue, his arms spread like Christ.
—Tyler Austin Harper, The Atlantic, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for townie
Cite this Entry
“Townie.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/townie. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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